Gold Pocket Watch with Monogrammed Clip

Object/Artifact

-

Bay Village Historical Society

Name/Title

Gold Pocket Watch with Monogrammed Clip

Entry/Object ID

1996.C.612

Description

Illinois Watch Co., Bunn Special pocket watch with gold-filled Bates & Bacon case, chain and monogramed clip. The clip reads "J J H" written vertically. The case was most likely made and sold seperately from the clockwork, and a jeweler matched them together. The case was made by Bates & Bacon, Attleboro, Massachussets (1883-1904). The watch case is gold-filled. The back cover twists off to reveal the clockwork. Inside the back cover of the case is stamped: "WARRANTED / B.&B. / ROYAL / 20 YEARS / 326687B" which is the maker's mark associated with Bates & Bacon watches. Inscribed above the maker's mark is: "H3765." Along the edge of the inside of the case around the clockwork is stamped: "6 8 7 8" The face of the watch features gothic lettering marking the hours, the minutes at 5 minute intervals, and in a small dial, the seconds. The face reads: "Illinois Watch Co." The inside clockwork reads: "Adjusted / 1647778 / 21 Ruby Jewels / Bunn Special / Springfield Ill." Clockwork is engraved with ornate designs throughout. The clockwork is graded as the Bunn Special, model 6, likely produced in 1902. This model is very high quality and is railroad grade. It is adjusted to 6 positions. This means the watch was adjusted to prevent variations in six different positions it could be held. Most watches are adjusted to only 3 or 5 positions. It is also temperature adjusted, to prevent variations despite temperature fluxuations. It has 21 ruby jewels. A watch that uses 17 jewels is considered fully jeweled (the jewels are used as bearings in the clockwork), thus a 21 jewel watch has a few extra capstones to reduce positional errors. Reference: Clockwork: https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/244810-illinois-watch-company-pocket-watch-with https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/illinois/16477784 https://mb.nawcc.org/wiki/Watch-Adjustment Case: https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/guide/case-companies/bates-and-bacon

Dimensions

Height

3 in

Width

2-1/4 in

Depth

3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Chain length: 15.75